KFBK News

Shaq to Buy Piece of the Kings

He once called them the "Queens," now he can call them his own.

Former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is now a part owner of the Kings.

USA Today's Sam Amick reports Shaq has bought a minority stake in the team. His's involvement with the new ownership group and team has been rumored since Vivek Ranadive and Mark Mastrov took control of the team in May.

The announcement came just days after ESPN The Magazine named the Sacramento Kings the worst sports franchise in the country.

Amick says "The Big Aristotle" will meet with players and coaches today before having dinner with Center Demarcus Cousins tonight.

Dan Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal says this type of investment usually isn't about getting more money into the ownership group but, rather, about what an individual adds to the organization.

"In Shaq's case, I imageine he will be one of the prominent public faces of the organization. I'm sure they'll try to use him in communication outreach. He's obviously a very sociable, ammeable person," Kaplan said.